After taking a year off due to the pandemic, Las Vegas is bringing back its New Year’s Eve spectacle this year with even more fireworks and a plethora of entertainment.
Tourism officials announced plans Tuesday that include a 16-minute fireworks show taking place at midnight. The coordinated show will take place from the rooftops of eight Strip hotels — one more than in past years with the addition of Resorts World, the city’s newest resort that opened over the summer.
Fireworks will also be shot off from MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian, and the Strat.
“The world has come to expect great things of Las Vegas, things that can’t be done anywhere else in the way that we do,” Jim Gibson, vice chairman of the Clark County Commission, said at a ceremony announcing the plans.
Officials said the addition of Resorts World is a welcome one to the show since it closes a major gap between the six hotels in the heart of the Strip and the Strat — which is the most northern hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard.
The show will feature 11,500 custom pyrotechnics controlled by 60 technicians.
Massive Crowds
Next to Times Square in New York, Las Vegas hosts the largest New Year’s celebration in the country. Crowds packing Las Vegas Boulevard have exceeded 330,000 in past years, and tourism officials expect even more this year.
Casinos in southern Nevada have been regularly breaking records for gambling revenue since reopening during the pandemic.
And with New Year’s, tourism officials expect the crowds to be massive.
“Being able to host this event again is so special because it allows us to close out the year in a memorable way,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events.
A Full Slate Of Entertainment
Prior to the fireworks, visitors will have an overwhelming number of entertainment choices in Las Vegas. Getting to them, or to venues for dinners or parties, will be the issue with Las Vegas Boulevard and some neighboring roads closed to traffic in the early afternoon.
In addition to regular shows, like five different Cirque du Soleil shows, America’s Got Talent Live, David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Magic Mike Live, and other standing shows, New Year’s Eve shows include:
- Bruno Mars at Park MGM
- Maroon 5 at the Cosmopolitan
- Katy Perry at Resorts World
- Lizzo at Virgin Hotels
- Usher at Caesars Palace
- The Go-Gos at the Venetian
- David Lee Roth at Mandalay Bay
- And if sports is more your taste, the city’s NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, are hosting the Anaheim Ducks in a noon game.
Hotel And Show Availability
Those hoping to travel to the city will have quite the challenge finding somewhere to stay. More than 300,000 visitors on the streets for the fireworks means most have already booked a room for the night.
Same for most of the shows, although the secondary market means tickets are always available if you’re willing to pay the price.
“People come to Las Vegas because they’re looking for a reason sometimes; this gives them another reason to be here,” Gibson said. “We’re extremely excited to have it again.”
Be sure to check out our coverage of Las Vegas and travel news:
